Sharing the difficulties with the people.

(Baonghean)In previous instances, when gasoline prices rose, the prices of other goods also surged, especially transportation, a service directly affected by fuel prices. This time, gasoline prices increased to a record high, suddenly rising to nearly 150 dong per liter (after a 500 dong reduction a few days ago), and even after half a month, transportation businesses remain silent. Other goods also remain unchanged.

This is certainly not the result of official documents and directives from relevant ministries and agencies instructing related bodies to prevent the phenomenon of "profiting from rising gasoline prices and raising prices unreasonably." Because in previous gasoline price increases, similar documents were issued, but prices still increased dramatically and immediately.

Decoding this unusual phenomenon, a passenger transport business owner stated that the number of passengers transported by taxi companies, not just his, is showing signs of stagnation, no longer increasing year after year as before. Therefore, even though this time the gasoline price increase has reached a record high, businesses can only tighten their belts and cut expenses as much as possible to try to stay in business, rather than thinking about raising fares. Consumer purchasing power is too weak; further price increases would only lead to business closure. It's better to barely survive than to die completely. Therefore, since the gasoline price increase, his taxi company has implemented a policy of supporting drivers who drive more than 200km a day with 16,000 VND to cover the increased fuel costs; the minimum support is 9,000 VND/day for drivers who only drive a few tens of kilometers a day. He calls this action a solution to share the burden and survive together. Surprisingly and quite touchingly, the drivers responded very positively to this "sharing the burden," even though, with this decision, they suffered considerable disadvantages.

Ordinary citizens are well aware of each other's difficulties, demonstrating a shared sense of responsibility to the community by "sharing the burden" to coexist and gradually overcome challenges. But what about state agencies, units, and enterprises responsible for caring for the people's lives and the national economy? The recent decision by the Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation to raise prices while global prices were falling can hardly be considered an act of "sharing the burden" with the people in the current difficult circumstances. The electricity sector also committed to not raising prices in April, but will they increase in May and subsequent months? No one dares to predict for sure. The road maintenance fee has been implemented, and it was thought that toll booths would no longer exist.

Conversely, to expand National Highway 1, the Ministry of Transport is pursuing a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, adding dozens of toll stations with prices 3.5 times higher than the current rates. Such actions only create more difficulties, not alleviate them! Furthermore, according to the Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Social Affairs, while the budget still allocates funds for health insurance for the poor and near-poor annually, only 20-30% of the funds are actually used by those near-poor – meaning the allocated money is not being utilized.

The housing policy for war veterans is also problematic; funds have been allocated, but implementation guidelines have yet to be issued. Meanwhile, those in positions of responsibility, upon leaving their posts and visiting any hospital, can easily see the plight of impoverished individuals struggling with serious illnesses, lacking the financial means to pay. In some disadvantaged areas, one immediately sees families of war veterans living in cramped, dilapidated houses. This delay clearly stems from a lack of responsibility, empathy, and compassion for the people.

The lives of the majority of the population are currently facing many difficulties due to the economic downturn, and they are in great need of support and assistance. However, if the "sharing of hardship" only occurs among people in similar circumstances, it will only be enough to weather the storm and will hardly lead to a strong, sustainable breakthrough. The "sharing of hardship" must come from all levels and sectors of government to create a powerful, widespread, and long-lasting impact.

Duy Huong